Reality is love being aware.
In reality, the physical and spiritual are intertwined in a true love's knot - a subtlety beyond comprehension. In the Third Galaxy, where truth is despised as the stuff of dreams, the Terrible Times approach - can they break the spell of illusion?

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Rambling in Emily Dickinson Mode

[Warning! What follows is an Emily Dickinson inspired philosophical ramble on themes religion is supposed to address. It is stated at the top of this blog that some posts here would entertain such subjects. However, since I know that many people are terribly allergic to both philosophical and religious discussion and break out in nervous tics and brain rash at the mere thought, I thought it prudent to give the reader fair warning up front...]

The emptiness of space between the stars is thicker than soup compared to what we know about what makes it all go around and around with such intricate finality.

When I was a child and saw the motes of dust dancing in sunlight beams sneaking through the blinds to shine upon my bed, my mind was filled with wonder – I imagined I was seeing worlds uncounted.

Life is full of pain and, if there’s a cure, we sure as death haven’t found it yet.

Some say, “The answer is right in front of you, as plain as the nose on your face – a flower opening between each breath…” It could be, I guess, I won’t deny it out of hand in any case, but still and yet, can there be an answer when we rarely hear the Question posed by life itself:

When all is said and done and all has gone to dust – did anything ever really happen?

[my ramble changes now changes to Emily Dickinson mode…]

When I died, I thought I heard someone cryand I thought – “Why?”and then – “Who is this who cries for me?”

Then suddenly I realized that it was me.But still, I wondered – “Why should I cryand why these tears in my eyes?”

The setting sun leaves no light and it seems vainthat we should rage against the night!

Will the Question be answered with Silence?Will angels lift me in choirs?Will demons come to drag me down to eternal pain?Is Eternity an “Emptiness filled with Joy”?

[back to (almost) normal mode]When I decided long ago to accept whatever comes as it comes – was I kidding myself? I wonder.

Indeed, for what is it that I cry?

Is it for things left behind, for that which comes or for that which can never be?

Perhaps I am afraid that I will forget the taste of life.

Without that taste, all will fade and surely love itself will surely fade.

Without love of what value being?

Awareness would then be empty and a total lack of meaning must needs ensue.

The love of being aware is the pinpoint upon which all life turns and towards which all sentience yearns.

I think your anonymous poet was halfway to discovering a truth. No matter how many cherished loved ones might be at our side, we die alone. Their grief is at their loss, not our death. Our grief is at the imminent loss of sensation and lack of knowledge about what follows.

Since no one really knows until after stepping over the threshold, I dispute the teachings of western christianity and Islam. I can't really be persuaded by teachings with so many internal contradictions. I find more comfort in Taoism and Buddhism.

I can't completely agree with your comment about awareness and sentience, although I'm amenable to persuasion. Awareness would seem to be the consciousness of the self. My impression is that many hive insects have no sense of self, oly of belonging. (That may be even more comforting to us - no man is an island and all that.)

ahhh... I got so wrapped up in my philosophical maunderings that I forgot to add compliments on the poetry. It's got good imagery and a fairly sweet meter. Rhyming is for those with purely linear minds. Many learn more from Ginsburg's "Howl" than from Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice."

TheCrazyBird

It was the Crazy Bird who discovered the short-short Path to Total, Complete Enlightenment. The instructions for Complete, Total Enlightenment are: Bend over, grab your right ear with your left hand, your left ear with your right hand and (briskly) pull you head out of your ass